Wood structure.



P. MELTZER.

WOOD STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1910.

Patented July 1, 1913.

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P. MELTZER.

WOOD STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1910.

15066312, I Patented July 1, 1913.

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P. MELTZER.

WOOD STRUGTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1910. v I

Patented July 1, 1913.

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PAUL MELTZER, 0F DARMSTADT, GERMANY.

WOOD STRUCTURE.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL MELTZER, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Darmstadt, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wood Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wood structures of any kind. And the ob jectof the improvements is to provide a structure which combines great strength with low weight. For this purpose each element of the structure consists of a plurality of spaced thin rods of circular or rectangular cross-section which are combined to form a bar of square or rectangular cross-section and are connected with each other by wires of high tension which cross each other and are passed through bores the diameter of which is slightly smaller than that of the wires.

By using in wood structures elements of the character indicated the structures can readily be built together. Preferably the cross-section of all the rods of the structure which are combined into a bar is the same in the whole structure. Therefore the bars can be connected with each other by insert iug the rods of one element into the spaces formed between the rods of the other element and afterward connecting the elements by means of wires which are passed through bores of the rods of both elements. The weight of wooden structures the elements of which are constructed in the manner indicated is materially reduced, because such an element has a moment of inertia which is considerably larger than the moment of inertia of a solid bar of the same weight. As by an increase of the moment of inertia the resistance of the bars against bending stresses is increased, the weight of a wood structure consisting of my improved ele ments is considerably smaller than the weight of a wood structure which is composed of solid bars of the same strength. Furthermore, the connection of the rods of an element to one another and the joint of various elements to each other can easily be made in a reliable way, because the crossing wires of high tension which are forced through bores of slightly reduced crosssection connect the rods to each other in such a way that they can not be separated. Furthermore by having its rods connected with each other by wires of high tension my im- Specification of Letters Patent.

\ Application filed March 16, 1910.

Patented July 1, 1913. Serial No. 549,773.

have been shown in the accompanying drawings in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings Figure 1, is a perspec tive View of a oint of three elements of construction, Fig. 2, is a front View of a truss, Fig. 3, is a vertical crosssection taken on the line A-A of Fig. 2,-Fig. 4, is a side view of a t-russed beam of simple construction, Fig. 5, is a verticalcross-section taken on the line BB of Fig.4, Fig. 6, is a side view of a multiple trussed beam, Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of a tubular beam.

Referring to the example illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the elements ofthe wood construction consists of nine rods 1 of square cross-section which are grouped. in rows of three adjacent rods and are held at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the rods 1. The three elements are connected with each other by inserting the rods of one of the elements through the spaces formed between the rods of the other elements and by connecting the rods with one another by means of horizontal and perpendicular wires which are inserted through bores of slightly smaller cross-section. The rods 1 of each element are held at a distance from one another which corresponds to the thickness of the rods, and for this purpose small rods or blocks 3 of the same cross-section are placed between adjacent rods and connected thereto by means of wires.

The truss shown in Figs. 2 and 3 consists of topand lower chords and perpendicular rods and diagonal braces 6 connecting the said chords. The top chord as well as the lower chord are composed of four rods 7 and 8 combined into a square beam. The said rods are held at proper distances apart by means of blocks interposed between the same and they are connected with each other by crossing wires. The vertical rods 5 and the braces 6 have the same cross-section as the rods 7 and 8 of the chords so that the connection of the parts can be made in a simple way. The rods 5 and braces G are connected to the rods 7 and 8 of the chords by means of wires of high tension which are forced through bores of the rods, which are of smaller cross-section than the wires.

The trussed beam illustrated in Figs. 4-. and 5 consists of two trusses of the character shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the top and lower chords are connected with each other by means of transverse braces 11 and 12 disposed at suitable distances from one another. The cross-section of the said transverse braces is the same as that of the rods 7 and 8 forming the top and lower chords and they can be inserted between the said rods. The transverse rods 11 and 12 are connected to the chords by means of wires of high tension.

The truss shown in Fig. (3 consists of a large number of rods 13 arranged in pairs one above the other. Between the pairs of rods 13 vertical rods 14 and braces 15 are disposed which impart to the truss a larger strength, and the adjacent pairs of rods 18 are held at suitable distances apart by means of cross bars 16. The rods 13 are connected to the rods 14:, the braces 15, and the cross bars 16 by means of crossing wires 17 passing through the said rods.

In the example shown in Fig. 7 a beam is shown which is constructed of four elements each of which consists of a plurality of longitudinal and transverse rods 18 and 19 combined into a bar of square cross-section and held at a distance corresponding to their cross-section and connected with each other by means of wires passed through the same. The elements are connected with one another by inserting the ends of the rods of the elements into each other and connecting the same by crossing wires. Thereby a hollow beam is produced which has no rods near its neutral axis and which has therefore a considerable strength and a low weight.

I claim herein as my invent-ion:

1. A wooden construction element comprising top and bottom members each consist-ing of a series of spaced rods assembled in a body of rectangular form in cross section, every face of which comprises a plurality of said rods, members extending transversely of and having their ends extending into spaces separating the rods of said top and bottom members, and means connecting said transverse members with each rod of both the top and bottom members.

2. A truss consisting of top and lower chords each comprising a series of spaced rods'assembled in a group or body of rectangular form in cross section every face of which includes a plurality of said rods, and braces having their ends secured in spaces separating the rods of the chords.

3. A trussed bear consisting of pairs of top and lower chords, vertical and horizontal rods and diagonal braces connecting the chords with each other, the said chords being composed of spaced rods arranged in groups of square cross-section, and the said horizontal and vertical rods and braces being inserted between the rods of the said chords and connected therewith by means of wires.

1. A wooden beam-like structure comprising four elements each consisting of a plurality of transversely spaced rods arranged in a group of rectangular form in cross section, said elements being assembled to provide a tubular body with the ends of rods of each element extending into spaces separating rods of two of the other elements, and means connecting intersecting rods of the several elements.

5. A construction element for wooden structures comprising top and bottom members each consisting of a series of spaced rods assembled in a body of rectangular form in cross section, every face of which comprises a plurality of said rods, similarly formed members extending transversely of and having their ends extending between the rods of said top and bottom members, and fastening wires extending through overlapping or intersecting rods of the several members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL MELTZER.

WVitnesses FRANZ l-Lxssmsrmn, ERwrN DIIPEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

